Method of and apparatus for recording data on write-once disc, method of and apparatus for reproducing data from write-once disc, and write-once disc therefor

ABSTRACT

A write-once disc includes: a plurality of update areas in which a predetermined kind of updated information is recorded; at least one main access information area in which main access information is recorded, the main access information indicating a final update area in which finally updated information is recorded among the plurality of update areas; and at least one sub access information area in which sub access information is recorded, the sub access information indicating a location of the finally updated information recorded in the final update area. Accordingly, an access time for reading a predetermined kind of information required to use the write-once disc can be reduced.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application Nos.10-2004-7969, filed on Feb. 6, 2004, and 10-2004-106537, filed on Dec.15, 2004 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a write-once disc, and moreparticularly, to a method of and apparatus for recording data on awrite-once disc to access information required to use the write-oncedisc more quickly, a method of and apparatus for reproducing awrite-once disc, and a write-once disc used with the above methods andapparatuses.

2. Description of the Related Art

New information can be recorded repeatedly on a rewritable disc on whichinformation has already been recorded. However, when new information isrecorded on a write-once disc, since information that has already beenrecorded may not be erased or recorded over, a new location must beallocated in order to update the information already recorded.

Generally, only information which has been finally updated ismeaningful. Therefore, to read the information which has been finallyupdated, an update area is allocated to a data area of the disc, and adata recording and/or reproducing apparatus detects the informationwhich has been finally updated by searching for the update area in whichupdated information is recorded. When large amounts of information arerecorded in the update area, it takes a lot of time to detect desiredinformation.

On a write-once disc for which defect management by a data recordingand/or reproducing apparatus is performed, there are areas to recordinformation for managing defects generated while the write-once disc isbeing used and information indicating a recording status of thewrite-once disc. According to a characteristic of the write-once discand, unlike a rewritable disc, since updated information cannot berepeatedly recorded at a location where existing information has beenrecorded when an update of the defect management information isrequired, the updated information must be recorded at an empty location.Accordingly, a relatively wide update area is necessary.

In general, the update area is allocated to a lead-in area or a lead-outarea on the disc. However, sometimes, the update area may be allocatedto a data area in order to increase the space available for an updatecount according to a user's designation. When finally updatedinformation required to use the write-once disc is recorded in theupdate area allocated to the data area, and when information indicatingthat the update area is allocated to the data area and informationindicating a location of the update area are included in the finallyupdated information, the finally updated information or a location inwhich the finally updated information is recorded cannot be detected,even if the entire update area allocated to the lead-in area or thelead-out area is sought.

Further, even if a data recording and/or reproducing apparatus detectsthat the finally updated information is recorded in the update areaallocated to the data area, if the size of the update area is large, itmay take a considerable amount of time to search the finally updatedinformation recorded in the update area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention provide a write-once disc havingrecorded thereon information having a data structure by which an accesstime for reading updated information required to use the write-once disccan be reduced.

Aspects of the present invention also provide a data recording apparatusand method by which an access time for reading updated informationrequired to use a write-once disc can be reduced.

Aspects of the present invention also provide a data reproducingapparatus and method by which an access time for reading updatedinformation required to use a write-once disc can be reduced.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forthin part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obviousfrom the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided awrite-once disc including: a plurality of update areas in which apredetermined kind of updated information is recorded; at least one mainaccess information area in which main access information is recorded,the main access information indicating a final update area in whichfinally updated information is recorded among the plurality of updateareas; and at least one sub access information area in which sub accessinformation is recorded, the sub access information indicating alocation of the finally updated information recorded in the final updatearea.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda write-once disc including: a plurality of update areas in which apredetermined kind of updated information is recorded; and at least oneaccess information area in which access information is recorded, theaccess information indicating a final update area in which finallyupdated information is recorded among the plurality of update areas,wherein the access information includes location information of theplurality of update areas, first flag information indicating the finalupdate area in which finally updated information is recorded among theplurality of update areas, and second flag information indicating alocation of the finally updated information recorded in the final updatearea.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda write-once disc including: a plurality of update areas, which are usedin a predetermined order, and in which a predetermined kind of updatedinformation is recorded; and at least one access information area inwhich access information including location information of the pluralityof update areas is recorded in recording block units, wherein a finalupdate area in which the predetermined kind of finally updatedinformation is recorded among the plurality of update areas is indicatedusing the number of recording blocks in which the access information isrecorded.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda data recording apparatus including: a write/read unit writing orreading information on or from a write-once disc; and a controllercontrolling the write/read unit to record a predetermined kind offinally updated information in one of a plurality of update areasallocated to the write-once disc, record main access information in atleast one main access information area allocated to the write-once discin order to indicate a final update area in which the finally updatedinformation is recorded, and record sub access information in at leastone sub access information area allocated to the write-once disc inorder to indicate a location of the finally updated information recordedin the final update area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda data recording apparatus including: a write/read unit writing orreading information on or from a write-once disc; and a controllercontrolling the write/read unit to record a predetermined kind offinally updated information in one of a plurality of update areasallocated to the write-once disc and record access informationindicating a final update area in which the finally updated informationis recorded in at least one access information area allocated to thewrite-once disc, wherein the access information includes locationinformation of the plurality of update areas, first flag informationindicating the final update area, and second flag information indicatinga location of the finally updated information recorded in the finalupdate area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus for recording data on a write-once disc having a pluralityof update areas used in a predetermined order and at least one accessinformation area, the apparatus including: a write/read unit writing orreading information on or from the write-once disc; and a controllercontrolling the write/read unit to record a predetermined kind ofupdated information in one of the plurality of update areas and recordaccess information including location information of the plurality ofupdate areas in the access information area in recording block units andindicating a final update area in which the predetermined kind offinally updated information is recorded among the plurality of updateareas using the number of recording blocks in which the accessinformation is recorded.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of recording data on a write-once disc having a plurality ofupdate areas used in a predetermined order and at least one accessinformation area, the method including: recording a predetermined kindof updated information in one of the plurality of update areas; andindicating a final update area in which the predetermined kind offinally updated information is recorded among the plurality of updateareas using the number of recording blocks in which access informationis recorded by recording the access information including locationinformation of the plurality of update areas in the access informationarea in recording block units.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda data reproducing apparatus including: a reader reading data recordedon a write-once disc; and a controller controlling the reader to obtaininformation of a final update area in which a predetermined kind offinally updated information is recorded among a plurality of updateareas included in the write-once disc from at least one main accessinformation area allocated to the write-once disc and obtain locationinformation of the final update area in which the predetermined kind offinally updated information is recorded from a sub access informationarea included in the final update area and obtaining the predeterminedkind of finally updated information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda data reproducing apparatus including: a reader reading data recordedon a write-once disc; and a controller controlling the reader to obtainfinally updated access information from at least one access informationarea allocated to the write-once disc, obtaining information of a finalupdate area in which a predetermined kind of finally updated informationis recorded among a plurality of update areas included in the write-oncedisc from the obtained access information, and obtaining thepredetermined kind of finally updated information based on the obtainedinformation of the final update area, wherein the access informationincludes location information of the plurality of update areas, firstflag information indicating the final update area, and second flaginformation indicating a location of the finally updated informationrecorded in the final update area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus for reproducing a write-once disc having a plurality ofupdate areas used in a predetermined order and at least one accessinformation area, the apparatus including: a reader reading datarecorded on the write-once disc; and a controller controlling the readerto read data by accessing the access information area, determining thenumber of recording blocks in which access information is recorded,determining a final update area in which a predetermined kind of finallyupdated information is recorded among the plurality of update areas onthe basis of the determined number of recording blocks, obtainingfinally updated access information from a recording block in which theaccess information is finally recorded in the access information area,obtaining location information of the final update area from the finallyupdated access information, and controlling the reader to read thepredetermined kind of finally updated information recorded in the finalupdate area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of reproducing a write-once disc having a plurality of updateareas used in a predetermined order and at least one access informationarea, the method including: accessing the access information area anddetermining a final update-area in which a predetermined kind of finallyupdated information is recorded among the plurality of update areas onthe basis of the number of recording blocks in which access informationis recorded; obtaining finally updated access information from arecording block in which the access information is finally recorded inthe access information area; obtaining location information of the finalupdate area from the finally updated access information; and obtainingthe predetermined kind of finally updated information recorded in thefinal update area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are structures of a write-once disc according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed structure of a write-once disc having a singlerecording layer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are detailed structures of a write-once disc having adouble recording layer according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are detailed structures of a write-once disc having adouble recording layer according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a process of recording data in a user dataarea and a spare area, respectively, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a data structure of temporary disc management informationaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a data structure of a TDMA divided into a sub AIA and aplurality of sub areas;

FIG. 8 illustrates a main AIA and a sub AIA according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate sub AIAs according to another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 10 is a data structure of access information according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a data recording and/or reproducingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elementsthroughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain thepresent invention by referring to the figures.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are structures of a write-once disc according to anembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a structure of awrite-once disc having a single recording layer L0, and FIG. 1B is astructure of a write-once disc having a double recording layer (i.e.,recording layers L0 and L1).

The write-once disc having a single recording layer L0 shown in FIG. 1Aincludes a lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-out area arranged fromthe inner circumference to the outer circumference. By way ofcomparison, each of a first recording layer L0 and a second recordinglayer L1 of the write-once disc having a double recording layer as shownin FIG. 1B includes a lead-in area in inner area 1 and inner area 2, adata area 1 and data area 2, and a lead-out area in an outer area 1 andouter area 2 arranged from the inner circumference to the outercircumference, respectively. However, it is understood that additionalrecording layers may be used, and the any such recording layers may bewrite-once, read only or rewritable and can have varying recordingdensities.

FIG. 2 is a detailed structure of the write-once disc having a singlerecording layer as shown in FIG. 1A according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the lead-in area includes afirst disc management area (DMA1), a second disc management area (DMA2),a first temporary disc management area (TDMA1), an access informationarea (AIA), and a recording condition test area. The lead-out areaincludes a third disc management area (DMA3) and a fourth discmanagement area (DMA4). Also, the lead-out area may further include atleast one of a temporary defect management area, a recording conditiontest area, an AIA or combinations thereof. That is, there may be atleast one each of the AIA, the DMA, the TDMA, and the recordingcondition test area in at least one of the lead-in area and/or thelead-out area.

The AIA is an area to record access information indicating a location atwhich update information such as defect management information that arecording and/or reproducing apparatus should obtain to use a write-oncedisc is recorded. The access information and the AIA will be describedlater.

The data area includes a first spare area (spare area 1), a user dataarea, a second temporary disc management area (TDMA2), and a secondspare area (spare area 2). The TDMA1 included in the lead-in area isassigned when manufacturing based on the specification of the write-oncedisc according to the present embodiment. However, the first spare area,the TDMA2, and the second spare area included in the data area areallocated to the data area by a user's selection in a process ofinitializing the write-once disc.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are detailed structures of a write-once disc having adouble recording layer according to an embodiment of the presentinvention as shown in FIG. 1B. FIG. 3A is a structure of a firstrecording layer L0, and FIG. 3B is a structure of a second recordinglayer L1. The structure of the first recording layer L0 shown in FIG. 3Ais identical to the structure of the write-once disc having a singlerecording layer shown in FIG. 2. The structure of the second recordinglayer L1 shown in FIG. 3B is similar to the structure of the firstrecording layer L0. However, in the structure of the second recordinglayer L1, the AIA is not allocated to a second inner area (inner area2), and two TDMAs (TDMA 4 and TDMA 5) are allocated to a second dataarea (data area 2).

The write-once disc having a double recording layer includes five TDMAs;TDMA1 through TDMA5. Locations and sizes of the TDMA1 and TDMA2 are wellknown to conventional recording apparatuses and/or reproducingapparatuses. However, TDMA3, TDMA4, and the TDMA5 need to be allocatedto data areas by a user or a recording and/or reproducing apparatus whena disc initialization is performed to use the write-once disc having adouble recording layer. When a temporary disc management structure(TDMS) is recorded in the TDMA1, a temporary disc definition structure(TDDS) including sizes and locations of TDMAs allocated to the dataareas is recorded in the TDMA1.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are detailed structures of a write-once disc having adouble recording layer as shown in FIG. 1B according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a structure of a firstrecording layer L0, and FIG. 4B is a structure of a second recordinglayer L1. A TDMA1, a TDMA2, and a TDMA5 are allocated to the write-oncedisc having a double recording layer as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Thatis, besides the well known TDMA1 and TDMA2, only the TDMA5 is allocatedto a second data area (data area 2) by a user or a recording and/orreproducing apparatus when a disc initialization is performed to use thewrite-once disc having a double recording layer.

Areas, such as TDMAs allocated to a write-once disc, and a process ofrecording data in the areas will now be described. A TDMA is an area torecord a TDMS for management of the write-once disc before finalizationof the write-once disc. The finalization of the write-once disc is anoperation preventing the write-once disc from being recorded again. Whendata cannot be recorded on the write-once disc any more by a selectionof a user, or when data cannot additionally be recorded on thewrite-once disc, the write-once disc is finalized.

The TDMS includes a temporary disc defect list (TDFL), a TDDS, and aspace bit map (SBM). The TDFL includes information indicating an area inwhich a defect is generated and information indicating a correspondingsubstitute area in a spare area. The TDDS to manage the TDFL includes alocation pointer indicating a location in which the TDFL is recorded, alocation pointer indicating a location in which the SBM is recorded,information indicating locations and sizes of spare areas allocated todata areas, and information indicating locations and sizes of the TDMAsallocated to the data areas. The SBM shows a data recording status ofthe write-once disc with a bit map by allocating different bit values toclusters in which data is recorded in cluster units, which are datarecording units, and clusters in which data is not recorded.

When the write-once disc is loaded into the recording and/or reproducingapparatus such as that shown in FIG. 11, it is required that the TDDS isquickly read and reproduced from the finally updated TDMS of thewrite-once disc in order to use the write-once disc in the apparatus.

Commonly, when the write-once disc is loaded into the recordingapparatus and/or the reproducing apparatus, the recording apparatusand/or the reproducing apparatus determines how to manage the write-oncedisc and how to record or reproduce data by reading information from thelead-in area and/or the lead-out area. If an amount of informationrecorded in the lead-in area and/or the lead-out area is large, moretime is taken to prepare to record or reproduce data after thewrite-once disc is loaded. Therefore, a concept of the TDMS is used, andthe TDMS generated while data is recorded on or reproduced from thewrite-once disc is recorded in the TDMA, which is separated from adefect management area, and allocated to the lead-in area and/or thelead-out area.

When the write-once disc is finalized, the TDMS, i.e., the TDFL and theTDDS, recorded in the TDMA is finally recorded in a DMA since aninformation access to quickly use the write-once disc is possible byallowing the recording or reproducing apparatus to read only meaningfulinformation from the defect management area by storing only finallymeaningful information among TDFLs and TDDSs, which are updated andrecorded several times, in the DMA.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a process of recording data in a user dataarea and a spare area according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, which is applicable to both single layer and double layerwrite-once discs.

FIG. 5A shows the user data area, and FIG. 5B shows the spare area. Amethod of recording user data in the user data area includes acontinuous recording mode and/or a random recording mode. The user datais recorded continuously and sequentially in the continuous recordingmode and randomly in the random recording mode. Zones 501 through 507indicate units in which verification after recording is performedaccording to a verify-after-write operation.

A recording apparatus writes the user data in the zone 501 and verifieswhether the user data has been normally written or a defect has beengenerated in the zone 501. If a portion in which the defect has beengenerated is found, the portion is designated as a defect area (i.e.,defect #1), and the recording apparatus rewrites the user data, whichhas been written in the defect #1, in the spare area shown in FIG. 5B. Aportion in which the user data that has been written in the defect #1 isrewritten is called a substitute #1. The recording apparatus writes theuser data in the zone 502 and verifies whether the user data has beennormally written or a defect has been generated in the zone 502. If aportion in which a defect is generated is found, the portion isdesignated as a defect area (i.e., defect #2). Likewise, a substitute #2corresponding to the defect #2 is generated. Also, in the zone 503, adefect #3 and a substitute #3 are generated. In the zone 504, a defectarea does not exist since a portion in which a defect has been generatedis not found.

If an end of a recording operation #1 is predicted after the user datais written and verified, that is, if a user pushes an eject button or ifrecording of the user data allocated to a recording operation isfinished, the recording apparatus writes information related to thedefect #1, and the defect #2, and the defect #3, which are defect areasgenerated in the zones 501 through 504, in the TDMA as a TDFL #1. Also,a management structure to manage the TDFL #1 is written in the TDMA as aTDDS #1.

The recording operation is a work unit determined by an intention of theuser or a desired amount of recording work. In the present embodiment,the recording operation indicates a period from when the write-once discis loaded and a recording work of predetermined information is performedto when the write-once disc is unloaded from the recording apparatus.However, it is understood that the work unit may be defined in adifferent manner such as by time periods.

When the write-once disc is loaded again, a recording operation #2starts, a recording condition in the recording condition test area istested, and the user data is written on the basis of the test result.That is, in the recording operation #2, the user data is written inzones 505 through 507 in the same manner of the recording operation #1,and a defect #4, a defect #5, a substitute #4, and a substitute #5 aregenerated. When the recording operation #2 ends, the recording apparatuswrites information related to the defect #4 and the defect #5 in theTDMA as a TDFL #2. Also, a management structure to manage the TDFL #2 iswritten in the TDMA as a TDDS #2.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B, when a plurality of TDMAs andspare areas are allocated to the write-once disc, the TDMAs and spareareas are used in a predetermined order. For example, when a data writepath applied to the write-once disc having a double recording layershown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is an opposite track path. In an opposite trackpath where data is recorded from a first inner area of the firstrecording layer L0 to a first outer area of the first recording layer L0and a second inner area of the second recording layer L1 to a secondouter area of the second recording layer L1. Further, data in the spareareas is recorded beginning with the first spare area of the firstrecording layer L0. When the first spare area is full, the second sparearea, the third spare area, and the fourth spare area are used in thissequential order.

Likewise, the TDMS is recorded in the TDMAs starting from the TDMA1 ofthe first recording layer L0. When the TDMA1 is full, an updated TDMS isrecorded in the TDMA2 allocated to the second inner area of the secondrecording layer L1. When the TDMA2 is full, a newly updated TDMS isrecorded in the TDMA3 allocated to the first data area of the firstrecording layer L0. In the shown embodiment, the TDMA1 and the TDMA2allocated to the inner areas of the recording layers are essential tothe Write-once disc. However, the TDMA(s) allocated to the data areasmay or may not be allocated according to a selection of the user.Therefore, the TDMS is recorded in the TDMAs allocated to the innerareas of the recording layers. When the TDMAs allocated to the innerareas of the recording layers are full, the TDMAs allocated to the dataareas are used. However, it is understood that in other aspects of thepresent invention the TDMAs allocated to the inner areas may benon-essential.

When a finally updated TDMS is written in a TDMA allocated to a dataarea, a write-once disc is usually unloaded. When the write-once disc isreloaded into a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus must obtain the finally updated TDMS inorder to use the write-once disc. However, when the TDMS is recorded inthe TDMA allocated to the data area, and the recording and/orreproducing apparatus cannot recognize that the TDMS is recorded in theTDMA allocated to the data area until the apparatus accesses the TDDSincluded in the TDMS. Also, even if the recording and/or reproducingapparatus recognizes that the finally updated TDMS is recorded in theTDMA allocated to the data area, if the size of the TDMA is large, itmay take a significant amount of time to search the finally updated TDMSrecorded in the TDMA.

In order to improve the search time, three exemplary embodiments will bedescribed in detail below. In these three embodiments, accessinformation (AI) indicates a location where update information such asthe TDMS, and in particular, the TDDS, is recorded. Also, the updateinformation indicates information that a recording and/or reproducingapparatus should recognize and read to use a write-once disc in aninitial period when the write-once disc is loaded into the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus. Also, an area in which the updateinformation is recorded is called an update area. In the threeembodiments, the update information is the TDDS, and the update area isthe TDMA.

In the first embodiment, at least one main AIA for recording main AI isallocated to a lead-in area or an inner area of a write-once disc, and asub AIA is allocated to a TDMA. When the write-once disc is loaded, arecording and/or reproducing apparatus first obtains the main AI byaccessing the main AIA. The recording and/or reproducing apparatusrecognizes a TDMA in which a finally updated TDDS is recorded from themain AI and then obtains sub AI by accessing a sub AIA of the TDMA.Since the recording and/or reproducing apparatus can recognize alocation where the finally updated TDDS is recorded in the TDMA from thesub AI, time required to search for the finally updated TDDS in the TDMAcan be reduced.

The AIA allocated to the write-once disc shown in FIGS. 2, 3A, and 4A isthe main AIA according to the first embodiment. While not required, thesize of the main AIA is preferably limited by minimizing an amount ofmain AI recorded in the main AIA and a main AI update count since ittakes longer to obtain the main AI if the size of the main AIA is largeror a plurality of main AIAs are allocated. In order to minimize the mainAI update count, when the TDMA in which a final TDDS is recorded ischanged, the main AI is recorded in one recording unit block of the mainAIA.

FIG. 6 is a data structure of a TDDS according to the first embodimentof the present invention. In the first embodiment, a data structure of aseparate main AI is not defined, and the TDDS is used as the main AI. Asdescribed above, the TDDS includes location information of the TDMAsallocated to a write-once disc. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, when theTDMA1 through TDMA5 are allocated to the write-once disc, the TDDSincludes location information of the TDMA1 through TDMA5.

In the first embodiment, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus canrecognize a TDMA in which a final TDDS is recorded from the number ofrecording unit blocks in which TDDSs are recorded in the main AIA.

A case where TDMA1 through TDMA5 are allocated to a write-once disc andused in an order of TDMA1, TDMA2, TDMA3, TDMA4, and TDMA5 will now bedescribed in detail. If the main AI (i.e. the TDDS) is not recorded inthe main AIA at all, the recording and/or reproducing apparatusrecognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in a first TDMA (i.e., theTDMA1).

If a TDDS is recorded in only a first block of the main AIA, therecording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS isrecorded in a second TDMA, i.e., the TDMA2. If TDDSs are recorded infirst and second blocks of the main AIA, the recording and/orreproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in athird TDMA, i.e., the TDMA3. Likewise, if TDDSs are recorded in firstthrough third blocks of the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducingapparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in a fourth TDMA,i.e., the TDMA4, and if TDDSs are recorded in first through fourthblocks of the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatusrecognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in a fifth TDMA, i.e., theTDMA5.

As described above, the recording and/or reproducing apparatusrecognizes a TDMA in which a final TDDS is recorded from the number ofrecording unit blocks in which TDDSs are recorded in the main AIA andreproduces the TDDS finally recorded in the main AIA. Accordingly, therecording and/or reproducing apparatus can recognize locationinformation of the TDMA from the TDDS.

The size of the main AIA depends on the number of TDMAs allocated to awrite-once disc. That is, if N TDMAs exist in the write-once disc, themain AIA includes at least (N-1) recording unit blocks, where N is apositive natural number.

The sub AIA and the sub AI will now be described with reference to FIG.7. The sub AIA is allocated from a first block of each TDMA, and thesize of the sub AIA depends on how many sub areas a TDMA including thesub AIA is divided into.

FIG. 7 is a data structure of a TDMA divided into a sub AIA and aplurality of sub areas. Like the main AIA shown in FIG. 6, a TDDS isused as sub AI, and a recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizesa sub TDMA area in which a final TDDS is recorded in the TDMA from thenumber of recording unit blocks in which TDDSs are recorded in the subAIA.

As shown in FIG. 7, the TDMA is divided into first through M^(th) subTDMAs, and when the sub areas are sequentially used in a direction fromthe first sub TDMA to the M^(th) sub TDMA, if a TDDS is not recorded inthe sub AIA at all, the recording and/or reproducing apparatusrecognizes that a final TDDS is recorded in the first sub TDMA, i.e.,Sub TDMA 1.

If a TDDS is recorded in only a first block of the sub AIA, therecording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS isrecorded in a second sub TDMA, i.e., Sub TDMA 2. If TDDSs are recordedin first and second blocks of the sub AIA, the recording and/orreproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in athird sub TDMA, i.e., Sub TDMA 3. According to the first embodiment, thesize of the sub AIA allocated to each TDMA depends on the number of subareas allocated to each TDMA. That is, if M sub areas exist in a TDMA,the sub AIA should include at least (M-1) recording unit blocks, where Mis a positive natural number.

FIG. 8 illustrates a main AIA and a sub AIA according to an embodimentof the present invention. A write-once disc according to the firstembodiment is a disc in which only a TDMA5 is allocated to a data areawhen initialization to use the disc is performed as shown in FIGS. 4Aand 4B. The main AIA includes 4 recording unit blocks. In the presentembodiment, the TDMA5 includes 35,000 blocks and is divided into unitsof 4,000 blocks. That is, the TDMA5 includes 9 sub areas (i.e., 8 subarea of 4000 blocks each and 1 sub area of 3000 blocks). Therefore, asdescribed above, the sub AIA includes 8 recording unit blocks (i.e.,M-1, where M is 9). However, it is understood that other numbers ofTDMAs, recording unit blocks and sub areas may be used.

When the write-once disc is initialized, or when a TDMA1 is used, themain AI is not recorded in the main AIA. If a location where a finalTDDS is recorded is changed to a TDMA2, a recording and/or reproducingapparatus indicates that the final TDDS is recorded in the TDMA2 byrecording a TDDS in a first block of the main AIA. If a location wherethe final TDDS is recorded is changed to the TDMA5, the recording and/orreproducing apparatus indicates that the final TDDS is recorded in afirst sub area of the TDMA5 by recording TDDSs in second, third, andfourth blocks of the main AIA.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate sub AIAs of a double layer write-once discaccording to the first embodiment in which a TDMA3, a TDMA4, and a TDMA5are allocated to a data area when initialization to use the disc isperformed as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Therefore, as described above,since 5 TDMAs are allocated, the main AIA includes 4 recording unitblocks. Each of the TDMA3 and the TDMA4 includes 16,000 blocks, and theTDMA5 includes 35,000 blocks as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9A is a data structure of the TDMA3, and FIG. 9B a data structureof the TDMA4. The TDMA3 includes 4 sub areas of 4000 blocks each.Therefore, a sub AIA included in the TDMA3 includes 3 recording unitblocks. Since the TDMA4 is the same as the TDMA3, a sub AIA included inthe TDMA4 also includes 3 recording unit blocks.

The TDMA5 is divided into units of 4,000 recording unit blocks andincludes 9 sub areas. Therefore, as described above, a sub AIA includedin the TDMA5 includes 8 recording unit blocks. It is understood thatother units of recording blocks may be used instead of 4,000.

As described above with respect to FIGS. 6-9, according to the firstembodiment, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus can more quicklyaccess a location where a final TDDS is recorded by recording main AI ina main AIA and sub AI in a sub AIA.

An operation when a recording and/or reproducing apparatus accesses alocation where the final TDDS is recorded from the main AI and the subAI will now be described in more detail. According to the firstembodiment, when a write-once disc in which the main AI and the sub AIare recorded is loaded in a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, therecording and/or reproducing apparatus accesses the main AIA. Ifinformation is not recorded in the main AIA at all, the recording and/orreproducing apparatus determines that a final TDDS is recorded in aTDMA1 or the write-once disc is a blank disc and accesses the TDMA1. Ifno data is recorded in the TDMA1, the recording and/or reproducingapparatus recognizes that the write-once disc is a blank disc and startsinitialization for using the write-once disc. If data is recorded in theTDMA1, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus obtains the final TDDSfrom the TDMA1.

If data is recorded in the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducingapparatus reproduces a TDDS by accessing a block in which the data isfinally recorded. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizeswhich block is the block in which the data is finally recorded andrecognizes in which TDMA the final TDDS is recorded. Also, the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus can recognize the size of a TDMA in whichthe final TDDS is recorded from the reproduced TDDS and recognizewhether a sub AIA is allocated to the TDMA from the size information,and if the sub AIA is allocated to the TDMA, the recording and/orreproducing apparatus can recognize the size of the sub AIA. If the subAIA is not allocated to the TDMA in which the final TDDS is recorded,the recording and/or reproducing apparatus searches for the final TDDSfrom the TDMA.

However, if the sub AIA is allocated to the TDMA in which the final TDDSis recorded, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus accesses the subAIA, recognizes up to which block data is recorded, and recognizes inwhich corresponding sub area of the TDMA that the final TDDS is recordedthe final TDDS is recorded.

Unlike the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-9, in a second embodimentshown in FIG. 10, sub AIAs are not allocated, and at least one AIA forrecording AI is allocated to a lead-in area or an inner area of awrite-once disc.

FIG. 10 is a data structure of access information (AI) according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention. The data structure of the AIshown in FIG. 10 is identical to a data structure of a TDDS. However, aflag indicating a TDMA in which a final TDDS is recorded is furtherincluded in the TDDS.

In the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the flag includes firstflag information indicating the TDMA in which the final TDDS is recordedand second flag information indicating which part of the TDMA indicatedby the first flag information the final TDDS is recorded in. As shown,the first flag information has 4 bits: b4 through b7. For example, itcan be defined that the final TDDS is recorded in a TDMA1 when the bitsb4 through b7 are “0000b”, a TDMA2 when the bits b4 through b7 are“0001b”, a TDMA3 when the bits b4 through b7 are “0010b”, a TDMA4 whenthe bits b4 through b7 are “0100b”, and a TDMA5 when the bits b4 throughb7 are “1000b”.

The second flag information has 4 bits: b0 through b3. The second flaginformation in a case where the first flag information indicates theTDMA5, which is divided into 5 sub areas, will now be described as anexample. It can be defined that the final TDDS is recorded in a firstsub area when the bits b0 through b3 are “0000b”, a second sub area whenthe bits b0 through b3 are “0001b”, a third sub area when the bits b0through b3 are “0010b”, a fourth sub area when the bits b0 through b3are “0100b”, and a fifth sub area when the bits b0 trough b4 are“1000b”. It is understood that other bit values may be defined by theuser or disc manufacturer.

A third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment described abovewith respect to FIGS. 6-9. However, unlike the first embodiment, in thethird embodiment, a sub AI is not recorded in a write-once disc.Therefore, a sub AIA is not allocated to a TDMA, and the main AI and themain AIA described with respect to the first embodiment are representedas AI and an AIA, respectively, in the third embodiment.

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which the write-once discaccording to the third embodiment is loaded records user data in a dataarea and a TDDS in one of a plurality of TDMAs. If a newly updated TDDScannot be recorded in a TDMA in which a previous TDDS is recorded sincethe TDMA is full, the newly updated TDDS is recorded in one of theplurality of TDMAs based on a predetermined order of use. Also, thenewly updated TDDS is recorded in one recording block of the AIA as theAI.

A reproducing apparatus in which the write-once disc according to thethird embodiment is loaded accesses the AIA and determines a final TDMAin which a finally updated TDDS is recorded among the plurality of TDMAson the basis of the number of recording blocks in which the AI isrecorded. Then, the reproducing apparatus obtains the finally updated AIfrom a recording block, which is finally recorded in the final TDMA. Thereproducing apparatus obtains location information of the final TDMA inwhich the finally updated TDDS is recorded from the finally updated AI.Finally, the reproducing apparatus obtains the finally updated TDDS fromthe final TDMA. Since a TDDS recorded as the AI in the AIA is recordedin the AIA only in a case where a TDMA in which an updated TDDS isrecorded is changed, the TDDS may be different from the finally updatedTDDS.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a data recording and/or reproducingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 11, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes awrite/read unit 1, a controller 2, and a memory 3. Under the control ofthe controller 2, the write/read unit 1 writes data on a write-once disc100 and reads the data recorded on the write-once disc 100. Thewrite-once disc 100 is a write-once disc according to the first, secondor third embodiments of the inventions shown in FIGS. 1-10.

The controller 2 controls the write/read unit 1 to write main AI, subAI, and/or AI according to aspects of the present invention on thewrite-once disc 100. Also, when the write-once disc 100 is reproduced,when the write-once disc 100 is loaded, the data recording and/orreproducing apparatus obtains a TDDS finally updated on the write-oncedisc 100 from information recorded in a main AIA, a sub AIA, and/or anAIA according to the first through third embodiments described above.

A reproducing operation of the write-once disc 100 according to aspectsof the present invention by a reproducing only apparatus will now bedescribed. Even if it is not shown, a structure of a reproducingapparatus according to the present invention is similar to a structureof the recording and reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 11. However,since it is a reproducing only apparatus, a reader is included insteadof the write/read unit 1. The read unit of the reproducing onlyapparatus reads data recorded on the write-once disc 100 under thecontrol of a controller of the reproducing apparatus. The write-oncedisc 100 is a write-once disc according to the first, second or thirdembodiment as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-10.

When the write-once disc 100 is loaded in the reproducing apparatus, thecontroller of the reproducing apparatus obtains the TDDS finally updatedon the write-once disc 100 from the information recorded in the mainAIA, the sub AIA, and/or the AIA described above.

The operations of the recording and reproducing apparatus and thereproducing apparatus from the descriptions of the embodiments describedabove will be easily understood by those skilled in the art. Further, itis understood that all or portions of the methods and/or controller canbe implemented as computer software encoded on a computer readablemedium for use by a general and/or special purpose computer.Additionally, while described in terms of write-once media, it isunderstood that aspects of the present invention can be implementedusing rewritable media, especially when implementing write-oncepartitions or areas.

As described above, according to embodiments of the present invention,an access time for reading a predetermined kind of information requiredto use a write-once disc can be reduced. In particular, when a pluralityof update areas for writing updated information required to use thewrite-once disc exist, a recording apparatus or a reproducing apparatuscan quickly and easily determine an update area in which finally updatedinformation is recorded among the plurality of update areas.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in this embodiment without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents.

1. A write-once disc for use with a recording and/or reproducingapparatus, comprising: a plurality of update areas in which apredetermined kind of updated information is recorded; and at least oneaccess information area including access information, the accessinformation area comprising space for a plurality of recording blocksand the access information area indicating to the recording and/orreproducing apparatus a final update area in which finally updatedinformation is recorded among the plurality of update areas according toa number of recording blocks in which the access information is recordedamong recording blocks in the space of the access information area,wherein at least one access information includes location information ofthe update areas and is updated in a case where an update area in whichthe finally updated information is recorded is changed.
 2. A datarecording and/or reproducing apparatus which transfers data with respectto a write-once disc, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatuscomprising: a write/read unit writing or reading information on or fromthe write-once disc; and a controller controlling the write/read unit torecord a predetermined kind of finally updated information in one of aplurality of update areas allocated to the write-once disc, and torecord access information comprising location information of the updateareas in at least one access information area allocated to thewrite-once disc, wherein the controller controls the write/read unit torecord the access information when the one update area in which thefinally updated information is recorded is changed, and wherein theaccess information area comprises space for a plurality of recordingblocks and the access information area indicates to the recording and/orreproducing apparatus a final update area in which finally updatedinformation is recorded among the plurality of update areas according toa number of recording blocks in which the access information is recordedamong recording blocks in the space of the access information area.
 3. Adata reproducing apparatus for use with a write-once disc, the datareproducing apparatus comprising: a reader reading data recorded on thewrite-once disc; and a controller controlling the reader to obtainfinally updated access information from at least one access informationarea allocated to the write-once disc, obtaining information of a finalupdate area in which a predetermined kind of finally updated informationis recorded among a plurality of update areas included on the write-oncedisc from the access information area, and obtaining the predeterminedkind of finally updated information based on the obtained information ofthe final update area, wherein the obtained access information includeslocation information of the plurality of update areas, wherein theaccess information is updated when the final update area in which thefinally updated information is recorded is changed, and wherein theaccess information area comprises space for a plurality of recordingblocks and the access information area indicates to the reproducingapparatus the final update area in which finally updated information isrecorded among the plurality of update areas according to a number ofrecording blocks in which the access information is recorded amongrecording blocks in the space of the access information area.